Alonso wants Red Bull to apologise over criticism

Fernando Alonso has demanded a formal apology from Red Bull after strong criticism of him by Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko, the team’s long-time consultant and close confidant of owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

The Spaniard insists he has received two approaches from Red Bull this year, including one just days after Daniel Ricciardo’s controversial departure to Renault. This is denied, with Horner, the team principal, describing Alonso as “not the healthiest choice” and Marko calling the Mclaren driver’s contract demands “very tedious”.

Alonso claimed yesterday that these barbs were at odds with the interest Red Bull had in him. “I had a couple of offers,” he said. “In 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, one in Monaco and one in August. So the comments of Christian and Mr Marko are completely out of context – about me creating chaos, being a difficult man to work with.

“Firstly, they never worked with me and, secondly, they’ve been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years. Now, they say that they are loyal to their programme and to their commitments to their junior drivers. It has been unfair to me. I wrote to Christian after his comments, and he apologised by email. I hope he will apologise again this weekend.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix, Alonso has decided to end his career in F1 to pursue other options in the US – almost certain to include a stint in the Indycar series – but even after 17 years in the sport, he has not yet definitively ruled out an F1 return.